Addressing-machine.



s. ELLIOTT.

ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1910.

Patented June 11,1912.

jiiueizian' 6 g d flaw y W adapted STERLING ELLIOTT, 0F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADDRESSING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented June 11, 1912.

Application filed September 26, 1910; Serial No. 583,730.

To all whom t't may concern:

Be it known that I, STERLING ELLIOTT, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of vented an Improvement in Addressing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to address-printing machines, commonly known asaddressingmachines, and particularly to the means by which the lowermost printing-plate, or stenoil-plate of a pile is removed therefrom and moved along a guideway to the printingmechanism; and the invention is intended as an improvement upon an addressing-machine, such for instance as shown in Letters Patent #935,196 dated Sept. 28, 1909.

Heretofore the lowermost stencil-plate of the pile has been removed by means of a pusher which engages the edge of the stencilplate andpushes it along beneath the pile which rests upon it. Occasionally the lowermost stencil-plate interlocks with the stencilplate above it, while being moved along, due to a transverse bend or other irregularity formed in one or both stencil-plates, and in such case one and sometimes both stencil plates are injured or destroyed, and the rapid and successful operation of'the ma chine interfered with. Furthermore, in case the stencil-plates are made of paper, or cardboard, or some equivalent material other than metal, the wear due to frictional engagement one with another is considerable, and results in the stencil-plates soon wearing out.

This invention has for its object to provide a receptacle for the pile of stencils, with a specially formed delivery opening, which is arranged in front of a guideway, such for instance as a pair of slotted guidebars, suitably spaced apart, whereby an unobstructed passage is provided for the removal of the lowermost stencil-plate of the pile, even though said stencil-plate may be bent or otherwise deformed; and the invention also has for its object to improve the construction of the pusher, whereby it is to raise the pile of stencil-plates above and free from the lowermost stencilplate, when removing said lowermost stencil-plate from the pile, so that engagement of the lowermost stencil-plate with the stencil-plate above it for the most part, is prevented. My invention, however, is appli- Massachuset-ts, have incable to stencil-plates of all kinds, even though made partly or wholly of metal.

Figure 1 1s a plan view of a suflicient portion of an addressing-machine to illustrate the stencil-plate receptacle and pusher embodymg this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical, longltudinal section of the parts shown in Fig, 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the

pusher being moved into its extreme rearward position preparatory to engaging the lowermost stencil-plate of the pile on its return movement. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pushing-plate embodying this invent on. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional details to be referred to. Figs. 7 and 8 are details illustrating the engagement o f'the lowermost stencil-plate of the pile by the improved pusher, and the raising of the pile as the pusher passes beneath it.

1 represents the table of an addressingmachine; 2, 2, a pair of slotted guide-bars thereon, arranged in parallelism and spaced apart-to form a guideway for the stencilplates 3, 3, or other form of printing-plates. Upright posts 4 are arranged on'the table at one end of the guide-way, forming a receptacle or supporting means for apile ofstencil-plates. As here shown, three upright posts 4, are employed, one arranged at one end and another at the other end of the pile, and another at one side of the pile between its ends. One of the end-posts 4, see Fig. 6, has a recess 40at itslower end, adjacent the table, to form an opening at one side of the supporting means, shaped to admit of the free passage of the pusher; and the opposite end-postal, see Fig. 5, has .a re'cess41, at its lower end, adjacent the table, to form an opening at the other side of the supporting means, which is differently shaped, to provide for the passage of the pusher and also for the passage of the lowermost stencil-plate of thepile, even if said stencil-plate is bent or otherwise deformed. -Said recess 41 has shallow portions at its ends, of a depth corresponding to the thickness of a stencil-plate, and said shallow portions are arranged opposite the slots in the guide-bars 2, 2, so that the stencil-plates will be guided in their passage from the receptacle to said guide-bars; and said recess has a deep portion between said shallow guiding-portions which is arranged opposite the space between the guide-bars 2, 2,

and which permits unobstructed passage of I a bent or otherwise deformed stencil-plate, or one which is bent or otherwise deformed while being removed.

The top walls'of the shallow guldmg-portions of the recess 41 are beveled in a direction from the inside toward the outside of v thereceptacle, as shown, and the bevel extends from end to end of said shallow portions, thereby forming beveled top walls, which assistin guiding 'deformed-stencllplates into and through the recess. The- Thepusher here shown for the purpose ofv illustrating my invention, consists of a frame 5, of any suitable'const-ruction havmg a top part 6, here shown as a plate wh1ch is arranged on'the frame, yet 1t may be otherwise constructed. The improved construction of the top part or portion of the pusher,

whereby it is capable of raising the pile of stencil-plates, for the most part, free from the lowermost stencil-plate, or an equlvalent form of pusher whereby this result is accomplished, forms one of the features of this invention. I

The plate 6, which, as here shown, forms the .top part of the pusher, is substantially rectangular in shape, and has a short plateengaging portion at its front end and a long pile-engaging portion back of said plateengaglng portion. The plate-engaging portion.is of a thickness corresponding to the full'thickness of a stencil-plate, so as to engage the end of the stencil-plate from top to bottom, and this is important, particularly in casethe stencil-plate is composed of paper and is consequently quite thin; and said plate-engaging portion is made short so that the pile-engaging portion will begin to lift the pile of stencil-plates as soon as the lowermost stencil-plate has been moved along ashort distance.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 'the top part of the pusher indicated at 6 is provided with raised side portions 7, 7, and with a deressed portion 8"between said side portions, oth "extending from end .to end of the pusher. The side portions 7, 7, fora short distance at thejfront end of the plate, are raised a short distance, corresponding to the thickness of 'a stencil-plate or 'thereabout,

so as to engage the edge of the lowermost I stencil-plate of the pile from top to bottom,

but the remaining parts of said side portions; are raised much higher and are also formed with upwardly inclined portions 71, 71, extendin from the lower to the higher parts thereo The high parts of said side portions are raised high enough to lift the pile of stencil-plates free from the lowermost stencil-plate.

The pusher normally occupies a position beneath the pile .of stencil-plates, as represented in Fig. 2 and its side portions 7, 7, are spaced apart suificiently to engage the sides of the frame. of the lowermost stencil-plate. The pusher is adapted to be reciprocated longitudinall and to accomplish this result a link 9 is oosely connected to it, which maybe operated to slide it back and forth, or other means may be employed for accomplishing this result, so far as my invention is concerned. The pusher, thus constructed,

is adapted to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 2, to the position shown in Fig. 3, and'to be then returned, and on the.

return movement the end of the plate-em gaging portion enga es the end of the lowermost stencil-plate 0% the pile, and moves it along beneath the pile, fora short distance, as shown in Fig. 7, and then the upwardly inclined portions 71, 71, engage the next stencil-plate of the pile and operate to lift the pile, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, so that as the lowermost stencil-plate is removed from the pile, engagement of said lowermost stencil-plate with the stencil-plate above it is prevented, for the most part.

It is obvious that the pusher may be otherwise constructed and still fall within the scope of my invention, yet-having a short plate-engaging portion corresponding in thickness to the thickness of the stencil-plate and having two long pile-raising side por tions, back of said plate-engaging. end-portion, to engage the frame of the next to the lowermost stencil-plate of the pile, whereby the pile is raised free from the lowermost stencil-plate while said lowermost stencilplate is being removed. 7

1. In an addressing-machine, a 'pair of slotted guide-bars arranged with a space between them, combined with a receptacle for a pile of stencil-plates, having a recess at the bottom for the delivery of the lowermost v stencil-plate of the pile, said recess having shallow guiding-portions at its ends in line with the slots in the guide-bars, and having a deep portion between said guiding-portlons, opposite the space between said guidebars, to permit unobstructed passage of a bent or otherwise deformed stencil-plate and means for pushingthe lowermoststencil-plate of the pile through said recess and into engagement with theguide-bars, substantially as described.

2. In an addressing-machine, a pair of slotted guiding-bars arranged with a space between them, combined with a receptacle 1 the bottom plate, and

substantially scribed.

the thickness of a stencil nation with means for holding a plurality of stencil-plates'in a pile, of a movablepusher having side portions at its top which are extended throu hout itslen h and raised to occupy two difierent elevations, and having a depressed portion throughout its length between said $16.6 portions, substantially as described.

6. In an addressing-machine, the combination with means for holding a plurality of stencil-platesnin a pile, of a reciprocating pusher,'consisting' of a frame and a top-plate secured thereto, said top-plate having its side portions raise at the forward end a short distance, to engage the end of a stencilplate, and raise for the remaining portion a greater distance to lift the pile of stencilplates, and having upwardly inclined portions extending from the lower to the higher parts of said side portions, substantially as described.

7. In an addressing-machine,v the combination with means for holding a plurality of stencil-plates in a pile, of a reciprocating usher, consisting o a frame and a. topplate' secured thereto, having its side portions raised at da short d1stance ,,to engage the end of one on a stencil-plate, and raise for the remaining portion a greater distance to lift thepile ofstencil-plates, and having upwardly inclined portions extending from the lower to the higher parts of said raised side-portions, and having a depressed portion between said side portions, substantially asdescribed. =1

In testimony whereof, I have signed my ,name to thisspecification, in the presence of 80 "two subscribing witnesses.

- v, n n sirnnmne ELLIOTT.

of stencil-plates having a recess at for the delivery of thelowermost the pile, said recess having for a pile stencil-plate of shallow guiding-portions at its ends in line with the slots in the guide-bars, thetop walls of said guiding-portions being beveled in'a directionfrom the inside toward the outside of the receptacle, and saidrecesshaving a deep portion between said beveled guidingportions opposite the space between said guide-bars to ermit unobstructed passage of a bent or otherwise deformed stencilmeans for pushing the lowermost stencil-plate of the pile through said recess and into engagement with the guide-bars,

as described. 3. In an addressing-machine,=the combination with means for holding a plurality of stencil-plates in a pile, of. a movable pusher adapt d to the lowermost plate from the pile, gaging portion at its front end, ness correspon dmg to the thickness of stencil-plate and having t-wolong pile-raising'side portions of a eater thickness, arranged back of said plate-engaging portion, and in parallel to engage the under side of the frame of the next to the lowermost sten-. oil-plate of the pile, substantially as de- 4. In an addressing-machine, the combination-with meansfor holding a plurality of stencil-plates in a pile, of a movable pusher having side portions at its top, which are extended throughout its length and raised at one end a short distance, corresponding'to -plate, and raised. portion a greater distance and'having for the remaining e or stencil-plates,

't-o lift-the pil upwardly incl'ned ortions extending from the lower to the higher parts of sa1dpor- Witnesses: tions, substantially as describe I B, J, Roms,

5. In an addressing-machine', the combiliLfiDmns.- 

